Anti-bullying Week 2011 will be held from 14-18
November.
With the slogan ‘Stop and think – words can
hurt’ this year’s campaign is focused on tackling verbal
bullying.
Young people at the ABA Youth Summit 2010 raised
concerns about the negative use of language in schools and the
wider community – expressions like ‘you’re so gay’ and words like
‘sket’ and ‘slag’. They saw this as a key indicator of bullying or
a hostile environment.
We know that derogatory language – words and expressions that
are homophobic, racist, sexist or disabilist, that seek to demean
particular groups and individuals are far too common in our
schools, colleges and communities.
Through this year’s theme we aim to:
- challenge the casual use of derogatory language in our schools,
colleges and communities.
- raise awareness of the consequences of using demeaning and
harassing language through technology.
- encourage schools, colleges and other settings to create
language charters that makes it clear what is and isn’t
acceptable.
- give children and young people the tools to challenge others
when they use derogatory language, to find new ways of expressing
how they feel if they are angry or upset, and to make a conscious
effort to speak positively and to compliment others.
- encourage adults to consider how they model the use of language
with children and young people (this includes all practitioners
working with children and young people but also celebrities and
people in positions of power).
More information is available at anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk.